Reuters: In November 2013, Minister of International Trade Ed Fast reemphasized Canada’s commitment to “ensure a prosperous Canada that remains a global champion of trade” with the Global Markets Action Plan. The plan makes clear that Canada’s stated goals of increasing economic opportunities at home and promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance worldwide are irrecoverably intertwined. This is hardly a revelation. Since the global financial crisis of 2007-08, developing countries have been increasingly acknowledged as leading drivers of global economic growth. The range of investment opportunities in these countries continues to steadily grow, as do the number of investors seeking to take advantage of them. “Africa rising” is now a stock storyline for media worldwide.